Friends helping friends through laughter...
The Mental Cases
If you would like to contact any member of Mental Flossing, please send an e-mail to: info@MentalFlossing.org
Headshot photos courtesy of Renee Hummel of Off the Wall Photography
Sid Caplan - "Our Flounder"A proud father and veteran, Sid came to the Valley from Miami where he worked as a comedian on tour. A respiratory therapist by trade, he is the former Compensation and Pension Manager for the Veterans Administration in Nevada, but returned to Virginia and served on the staff of Morton C. Blackwell at The Leadership Institute and later as the Director of Recruitment for Yorktown University. In 2004, he returned to patient care after "being humbled" and found his background in comedy was his greatest asset in working with the terminally ill.
John Huffman - "The Painter"
The youngest member of the group, John is a native of the Shenandoah Valley and former creative mind behind his own online video business. John admits he simply has not lived enough years to have an interesting bio, so he's asking for creative submission. He claims he was recruited by the CIA to infiltrate local comedy groups. Unable to find any, he joined Mental Flossing. All we know about him is that he's "crazy funny", an avid paint-baller and worth every penny of the Free Admission.
Bethany Lewin - "Our Girl Friday"Bethany came to the Shenandoah Valley from New Jersey, but you'd never know it from her accent. She's a preschool teacher at Good Shepherd and describes herself as: vivacious, not at all domestic and likes getting caught in the rain. Her favorite literary character is Ferdinand the Bull and her favorite past time is singing karaoke, which she does badly, but she enjoys it and the doctors think it's good therapy. A gutsy performer, she is willing to take on the strangest of audience suggestions - and she's a great She Hulk if only she would just stop laughing first.
Tony Lopez - "The Linguist"
Our Executive Officer hails from Chicago, but has lived in many countries and states. Most of his improv experience comes from trying to communicate while living abroad and teaching English to people who don't always understand English or him. He holds a Masters Degree in Physics from Stanford University and insists Science is much cooler than most people think. He works at Rosetta Stone making computer programs that teach languages, but as a side occupation, he likes to force humor and sarcasm on co-workers.
Amanda Carlton - "The Caffeine Queen"
Amanda was born and raised in the distant land of Charlottesville, VA. She is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in Theater Performance. She claims to have moved to Harrisonburg to open her family business of Greenberry's Coffee and Tea, but we know it was really just so she could to get on stage with Mental Flossing. She is returning to improvisational comedy after a two year hiatus since having her son, Garrett and says his first words were, "Yes, and... "
Alex Goryuk - "Funny Ukrainian Guy"Alex (a.k.a Sasha, a.k.a Shurik, a.k.a Aleksandr) -- what better place for a guy with that many aliases than Mental Flossing ? New to improv, Alex was born in Ukraine. He grew up watching over-glamorized American movies and was thoroughly disappointed when he came to America and found that only a small percentage of Americans live in mansions or drive fast cars. A graduate of James Madison University, he works at Rosetta Stone as a software developer, but in his off time, enjoys taking pictures and trying out new names on random people he meets at Klines.
Justin Howdyshell - "Mel Blanc"
A native of Staunton, Justin has been doing stand up comedy since he was 16. He has traveled the far reaches of the country as he pursued his career (okay, he went to Memphis), but returned home to be closer to his family. He claims his goal in life is to make people smile more, listen to the quite things and laugh at the little things. He started out by doing impersonations to make his mother laugh and thrives on the pleasure of making those around him laugh at life: family, strangers, and strange family alike.
Bill Howard - "Rev. Bill"
The group's accompanist and Musical Director, Bill is a native of the Shenandoah Valley and our least experienced improviser. A former member of JMU's New and Improv.'d, Bill has been dabbling in Improv for the past 8 years. He was also a member of The Newfangled Variety Hour Sketch Comedy Ensemble and The Rude Mechanicals Improv Troupe. He has also directed Improv and Sketch comedy workshops and performances for ShenanArts, Theater Wagon, and Fort Defiance High School. Bill also plays in the bands "Heart Gets Monkey" and "The Bourbon Specials." -- See? No experience, but we're happy to have him anyway.
Cast Archives ... Gone but not forgotten
Saying good bye to one of our own
Aaron Page - Tony Lopez - Sid Caplan - John Huffman - John Schuster
gather at Whitesel Music
Aaron Page - Tony Lopez - Sid Caplan - John Huffman - John Schuster
gather at Whitesel Music
Aaron Page - "The Actor"
Our avant-garde of the group and Assistant Director, Aaron is a graduate of Christopher Newport University and a native of Virginia. Between Mental Flossing rehearsals, Aaron works for a living at a large local institution and teaches aerobics classes. He has a strong background in theater with lots of professional and education experience. We don't know exactly what, but trust us when we say he's a very talented performer and worth coming out to see. He is originally from Lynchburg, VA but is having a great time in Harrisonburg.Sadly, Aaron has left the area to pursue other opportunities in Chicago, but he remains in our hearts and creative minds and will be missed for his candor, his professionalism, wit and most importantly, for keeping Bethany entertained.
Chris Lythgoe - "The Flying Goose"
Our very own Dirty Harry with a spiritual conscience. Chris has been a professional drummer since 1988 as well as a published poet (Poet's Domain by Live Wire Press). He claims to be a skilled chef in Italian, Thai, Chinese and American cuisines, but no one that has tasted his cooking has lived to tell about it. Chris worked in personal protective services for 10 years, but is currently a full time student at Bridgewater College where he also hosts his own radio program, The Renaissance Man Variety Show. Chris became a part Mental Flossing because he shares the core vision of laughter and community service. He has traveled all over the US and Europe, but currently resides in Elkton (but we don't hold that against him). Chris has left the group to finish his college education, but shall forever remain in our hearts as "the flying goose".John Schuster - "The Wise One"
The "wisest one" of Mental Flossing, John began his acting career beside many of the giants of Vaudeville such as Eddie Cantor and Ed Wynn. He claims he passed up "The Jazz Singer" project in order to help a shy and humble performer known as Al Jolson get his big break. A long time resident of Harrisonburg, John lists his acting credits as "Beckett... and something else...". He has also done some stand up comedy at the Comedy Club in Charlottesville years ago. Having found his way home from that endeavor, he joined Mental Flossing in hopes of resuming his rise to the pinnacles of the comedy industry. Look for John at Clementine's in Harrisonburg! Matt Pearson - "The Director"
The Dan Ackroyd of the group, Matt began improvisational theater at EMU where he is a founding member and artistic director for EMU's Arters Anonymous, a short form improv troupe. He has also interned with Washington Improv and studied comedy at The Second City in Chicago, all of which has given him a great deal of experience for such a young man. He claims he will be graduating this Spring with a degree in Theater. He likes to quote George Burns and we thought maybe he was a reincarnation, but considering his money spending habits, we've decided he's really Jack Benny. His energy and contributions to performances is greatly appreciated, but he leaves us now to pursue higher education at the University of California.